Hey folks! Welcome back to "Through the Rough"! These next couple of chapters are probably going to be some of my favorites to write, just because of how I've imagined them. I really hope you all enjoy what I've come up with.
Without further delay, let's get into it!
THROUGH THE ROUGH
"Huh… huh…" Onima breathed out exhaustedly with his hands upon his knees, having dealt with several Punishers alongside Kido and Burnin.
"You think that Aoneko needs help up top?" the bandaged man of the group inquired of his colleagues.
"It sounded like she was fine," the Blazing Hair Quirk user responded as she let the spear of fire in her hand dissipate, "We need to catch up to Endeavor and the others," she insisted.
"Right," Kido agreed, jogging off with her. Onima finally caught his breath, about to head after them. But then, he noticed a faint glow coming from another room.
"Hey, guys!" he called out to his fellow sidekicks, causing them to stop as they looked back at him, "I think I found something!" he noted. Moments later, the trio entered the room, noticing several computers strewn about, appearing to show security footage of the compound they were in.
"So this must be where they're monitoring us…" Kido assumed.
"Looks like the kids handled those Zaiten guys," Onima pointed out, spotting the downed Baku and Garrot upon the screens. Burnin trekked further into the room, looking ahead and letting out a sharp gasp, getting her colleagues' attentions.
"Burnin?!" Kido cried out, jogging over to her alongside Onima. Both of them came to a stop, widening their eyes as well.
"Is… that…?" Onima started to ask.
"Yeah, it's gotta be…" the Blazing Hair Quirk user replied, gritting her teeth. In front of her and her fellow sidekicks was a large vat that contained the remnants of Valkyrie's body, with several cables and wires plugged into it. "What the hell did Kurenai do to you…?!" Burnin snarled in question. Back in the spacious room, the villainess herself chuckled as she looked out dismissively at Shoto.
"You're going to take me down?" she inquired, "Sorry if I find that laughable…" she remarked, giggling a little.
"Shoto…" the teary-eyed Homura uttered out.
"It's alright," the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user assured to her surprise, "I can handle this myself," he proclaimed.
"Did Nino not tell you that my target is Endeavor, not you?" Kurenai inquired, somewhat offended, "I'll admit, I'm surprised you managed to make it here first…" she confessed as she glanced off to the side, "but don't think that means I'll need to take you seriously…" she muttered out. Instantly, a wave of ice was about to crash down onto her.
"Shut up," Shoto said as his ice seemingly smashed his target to the floor, "Huh…" he exhaled afterward.
"Now that was rude," Kurenai's voice retorted as he lightly gasped. The mist cleared, revealing that she was unharmed from the attack as her hand braces had a scarlet glow coming off from them. "You could've given me at least a warning…" she noted cheekily.
"Shoto…" Endeavor uttered from afar, clenching his fists tightly. He knew that this fight needed to be left to his son. Not because he was best suited to face Kurenai, but because he was the only one who could save Homura.
OPENING
Insert "Kaibutsu" by Tani Yuuki
Opens with Rebecca getting into her winter costume, donning her cat ears and blue jacket before stepping out of the locker room. She smiles as she spots Izuku, Katsuki, Shoto, and Homura, as they're all gathered at the Endeavor Agency together. They walk into the main office, finding themselves greeted by Endeavor, Burnin, and the other sidekicks, ready to start another day of work.
We see the five interns struggling to keep up with Endeavor as he speeds ahead, saving lives and stopping villains. For a moment, he hesitates upon thinking of his family laughing at the dinner table without him. Meanwhile, Gowen is hanging out in an abandoned warehouse with Elsie and the rest of the crew, glancing out a window to see the Flame Hero he once worked under acting like more of a hero than he remembers. He turns away to gather with his colleagues, whom all don't notice the smirk on Jesse's face.
Elsewhere, Madame Kurenai marvels at the sight of the red mech suit being built for her, with her cohorts standing behind her. Nino grimaces worriedly before looking away. We get shots of the Paranormal Liberation Front, including Tomura as he enters a vat and closes his eyes, being sent into a deep slumber. Dabi is out in the city, overlooking how Endeavor and his interns are faring in fending off villains.
Katsuki blasts himself away from Baku, who swings blades of energy his way from his axe. Izuku protrudes his Blackwhip from his right arm, imitating Spider-Man as he swings about while evading the many Punishers heading his way. They're shot down by Rebecca, who winks with a grin before taking care of more foes.
Next, we find a scene of Homura coming face-to-face with Kurenai for the first time, as she opens her arms to welcome her. However, Shoto suddenly steps in between them, igniting the flames on his left side threateningly. Kurenai smirks, hopping into her mech as it towers over the two U.A. students. They take ready stances before starting a battle.
There are shots of Deadend Crow, Poseidon Shura, Tomura Shigaraki, God Acnoella, Elsie Crimson, and Saintfire Nox, as they all give off ominous auras. We also see the likes of Justice, Mirko, Holy, Eraser, Feather, and Cure, though the latter looks away. There's also shots of the other students on their internships, with Kleene and Ochaco flying alongside Nejire and Ryukyu, with Tsuyu riding aboard the Dragoon Hero's back. Weisz, Eijiro and Tetsutetsu gorge on takoyaki with Fat Gum, while Tamaki sulks in the corner, unable to keep up with their energy.
Kyoka and Mezo are interning under Gang Orca with Laguna and Hitoshi. The Tears Lover Quirk user notices that Kyoka's home screen on her phone is a picture of her and Rebecca from the school concert, which she blushes at. She yelps in embarrassment upon realizing that Laguna saw, while Mezo and Hitoshi blink in confusion. Shiki flies alongside Fumikage as they soar after Hawks, who's lost in thought over whatever the Paranormal Liberation Front is up to.
The song winds down with the interns at Endeavor's agency taking a much-needed break, having snacks and drinks atop the building's roof together. Rebecca lovingly leans against Izuku's shoulder, while Homura winds up holding hands with Shoto as they stare at the sunset together. Katsuki scoffs and trudges away, but not before taking one last glance at Rebecca and letting off the tiniest of smiles.
END OPENING
"You're kidding…" Izuku uttered in disbelief as his eyes were shaking.
"Kurenai is loose lips' mom?!" Katsuki exclaimed after he and his rival had heard what Rebecca had learned. She nodded.
"Part of me wonders if Homura'll even be able to follow through with trying to kill her…" she noted worriedly, "In any case, we need to get moving," she insisted, "We've already dealt with the Zaiten Three guys, so all that's left is Kurenai," she pointed out.
"And whatever weapon she's got to take on Endeavor…" her boyfriend mentioned. At that moment, the trio perked up upon hearing something. Entering the room were more Punishers.
"Uh oh…" the Cat Leaper Quirk user uttered, quickly grabbing her blasters.
"More of these damn bastards…" Katsuki growled as explosions crackled off of his palms.
"Let's charge through!" Izuku insisted, letting green bio-electricity crackle around him.
"Don't give me orders!" the Explosion Quirk user shouted back before blasting himself forward alongside his colleagues. Meanwhile, Shoto grimaced as he glared down Kurenai, who chuckled. He narrowed his eyes onto her hand braces.
"Is that a support item?" he presumed.
"My, you're quite observant," the villainess remarked, sounding impressed, "This little trinket does in fact enhance my latent ability," she pointed out, "You already know that Homura was Quirkless beyond the age of four, a trait I at first wished she didn't inherit from her father…" she explained as her daughter blinked in surprise, "I myself happen to have a Quirk that's most suited to dealing with emitter-types like yourself," she pointed out.
"Is that so?!" Shoto roared in question, launching a stream of fire toward his foe. She merely stuck her left hand out at it, causing it to completely dissipate before it reached her. "What?!" the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user exclaimed out of shock.
"Ahahahaha!" Kurenai laughed, "You thought switching to fire would help you?" she presumed rhetorically, "Honestly, you really are half-baked…" she muttered out, "My Quirk is something that burns through anything with energy," she explained, "Whether it be the kinetic force of your ice or the heat of your flames, I can burn it to nothing…" she proclaimed confidently.
Madame Kurenai! Quirk: Burn!
She can burn off energy from pretty much anything that she can touch! Those braces of hers help extend the range of her Quirk, so that she doesn't need to actually touch things like fire. On top of that, anything she burns upon contact leaves a distinct red mark upon the target, earning her the title of the Scarlet Woman!
"You burn energy?" Shoto inquired, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"Now you understand how fruitless your struggle really is," the villainess noted with a smirk.
"Shoto…" Homura whimpered out, getting his attention, "You… don't have to this…" she insisted as she trembled, "All of this… it's my fault…" she proclaimed, much to his shock as he blinked. However, he steeled himself.
"No, it's not," he said firmly, unleashing another stream of fire toward Kurenai.
"Switching it up, are we?" she presumed, this time weaving around the flames as she charged at her foe. However, he shot off a wave of ice to halt her attempt, making her grimace as she stuck both of her hands out, melting the ice as steam and mist began filling the room. She then had to duck away from another blast of fire that almost singed her hair.
As waves of fire and ice continued to be sent her way, Endeavor watched on. He was amazed at not only how well his son had improved in battle just from the past month alone, but also his aptitude. By switching between fire and ice attacks constantly, he was regulating his own body temperature in order to not end up felled by one or the other. And that kept Kurenai on her toes as she grimaced.
'Damn it…' she cursed inwardly, 'I can't believe I'm being forced to pull out my trump card early to stop a mere child!' she grumbled through her thoughts as she gnashed her teeth together. However, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the Flame Hero watching the battle unfold. A manic grin returned to her face. 'But now, this is perfect!' she proclaimed as she evaded another wave of ice. Flames ignited around Shoto's left arm.
"Flashfreeze… HEATWAVE!" he roared, swiping out an arc of fire out toward his foe. She curled her left middle in, pressing a button upon her brace. All of a sudden, the floor opened up beneath her, allowing her to evade the fire as she fell. Everyone gasped in surprise, hearing her cackle.
'Where'd she go now?' Endeavor wondered worriedly. Deciding to no longer be a spectator, he shattered the window with a punch of flames, causing his son and Homura to perk up as they saw him descend into the area, landing beside them.
"Endeavor…" Shoto uttered.
"Stay on your guard," his father advised, "She may have another trick up her sleeve…" he pointed out seriously.
"Oh, I certainly have a trick for you, Endeavor…" the Burn Quirk user's voice echoed over an intercom, "I'm sure by now, you know of my ambition to kill you, yes?" she presumed. Before the Flame Hero could respond, there was a rumble in the ground. "Well, don't think I'm not prepared to do so…" she advised, "I'll be even more of a match for you than that Nomu!" she proclaimed. Coming up from the floor was a massive red mech, towering over the trio as its eyes glared down at them. Piloting it from the inside as she held its controls was none other than Kurenai. "Say hello to the Kurenai Dragoon!" she remarked, "It's the very thing that'll finally put an end to you, Endeavor!" she declared, having its right arm rear back for a punch. The Hellflame Quirk user did the same.
"Both of you, get out of here!" he instructed of Shoto and Homura, unleashing a fiery beam from a white-hot point upon his fist at the mech. However, it did nothing in terms of damage, much to his shock as his eyes widened. "Damn!" he cursed, quickly flying back and grabbing his two students, rocketing off with them before the mech's fist collided with the floor. Seeing them escape from her seat within her weapon, Kurenai grinned.
"Now the fun can really begin…" she remarked aloud.
X
"Whoa!" Rebecca yelped as she, Izuku and Katsuki felt the sudden rumble throughout the labyrinth, "What the heck was that?!" she exclaimed in question.
"Who cares?!" the Explosion Quirk user roared, firing off more blasts onto the Punishers coming towards him, "I'm sure Icy-Hot and Endeavor are already on it with loose lips!" he affirmed, flipping over another android before blasting it down onto the ground.
"They have names, Kacchan!" Izuku yelled before kicking aside another Punisher.
"Like I care, you damn nerd!" Katsuki roared back.
"Guys, cut it out!" Rebecca insisted, blasting away more of the incoming androids with her weapons, "I really think something's wrong!" she pointed out. At that moment, she noticed something coming up ahead. It was Endeavor, flying through the labyrinth with both Shoto and Homura in his grasp.
"Endeavor?!" Izuku yelped upon noticing.
"All of you, we're getting out of here!" the Flame Hero instructed quickly as he flew on ahead. The others hurried after him, with Rebecca glancing back to see that the labyrinth was breaking down. Outside of the warehouse, Nino had woken up to find himself cuffed again, also noticing Burnin, Kido and Onima there as well, looking over the vat holding Valkyrie on the ground.
"Glad we got it out of there, but now what?" the latter of the three sidekicks asked of his colleagues.
"We should call the Shining Star Heroes and let them know we recovered her body at least," Kido insisted.
"Yeah," the Blazing Hair Quirk user agreed. Just then, the three of them felt the sudden rumble. "The hell?!" Burnin yelped out.
"Oh no…" Nino uttered with widened eyes. Emerging from the building were Endeavor and the other student heroes, landing and skidding to a stop.
"Endeavor!" Burnin exclaimed, approaching her boss, "What happened?!" she asked immediately.
"Kurenai's piloting that battle mech thing she's been building to kill me," the Flame Hero confirmed in response, causing her to blink in shock, "I bet she was hoping we'd come here in the first place…" he mentioned, looking over to Nino, whose eyes were shaking.
"Homura!" Rebecca cried out, running over to the Soul Blade Quirk user as she was set down with Shoto, "Are you okay?" she asked in concern.
"I…" Homura tried to respond, but felt herself seize up. Just then, the warehouse collapsed beside the group. Izuku took on a ready stance.
"How big is this battle mech she's piloting?" he inquired. As if on cue, a large red hand emerged from the rubble, almost slamming down onto the group. Luckily, they all managed to move away in time.
"Very big…" Shoto said with a grimace. Coming up from the ground was the Kurenai Dragoon, as its eyes bored down onto those below.
"Ahahahaha!" Kurenai's voice cackled as within the mech, she was comfortably seated in her piloting chair, with her right hand gripping the joystick, "What do you think, Endeavor?!" she inquired of the Flame Hero, who grimaced, "This'll be much more of a challenge for you than that pesky Nomu from a while back!" she proclaimed.
"Kurenai…" the Hellflame Quirk user growled out. At that moment, the villainess took notice of Valkyrie's vat lying upon the ground.
"Ah, so I see you've found her…" she pointed out to her foes' surprise. Homura widened her shaking eyes upon spotting her former master's body, tearing up again. "Fortunately for all of you, I don't have any more use for her…" her mother noted, causing the Soul Blade Quirk user to lightly gasp, "Her combat programming was perfect for my Punisher Force!" she mentioned happily.
"Huh…?" her daughter uttered in disbelief as tears were starting to streak down her face again.
"No way…" Rebecca said, quite shaken by the information.
"As if killing her wasn't bad enough…!" Burnin growled out.
"You monster!" Shoto roared angrily. Kurenai chuckled.
"Call me whatever you like…" she said as several of her Punishers flew up from the destroyed warehouse, "While you small fry go ahead and deal with my perfect Punishers, I'll have Endeavor all to myself!" she declared, cackling on. Her androids each soared down, drawing their scepters and swinging them towards their targets.
"Whoa!" Rebecca yelped as she flipped back, grabbing her blasters to quickly shoot two of them down. Her boyfriend made the outer layers of his gloves jolt forward, unleashing pressurized air blasts with flicks of his fingers, knocking back several of the Punishers.
"Damn it…!" Katsuki cursed, blasting himself around to lure away some more androids before catching them all in one big explosion. As Endeavor's sidekicks battled against the Punishers themselves, the Kurenai Dragoon turned its focus onto the Flame Hero himself. Kurenai grinned, having her mech rear its right arm back for a punch toward her target. All of a sudden though, a wave of ice shot out and blocked it, much to her surprise. The Hellflame Quirk user looked to see his son there, as he exhaled a cold breath from his lips.
"I'm the one you'll have to kill first!" he challenged with rage in his tone.
"Shoto…" Homura whimpered out.
"Tch…" Kurenai scoffed, "Fine then!" she shouted out, having her mech rear its left arm back, "If you want to die so badly, I'll gladly kill you!" she affirmed as the Kurenai Dragoon's fist was ready to crash into the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user. He swung his right arm up, making a massive wave of ice shoot up and seemingly engulf his foe completely.
"Shoto!" his father exclaimed, noticing the frost forming along the right side of his body.
"I'm alright…" he assured in between breaths, "I held back earlier since we were inside…" he pointed out, "No matter how powerful that mech is, it won't be able to handle that much ice all at once…" he noted on confidently. However, the ridge suddenly started crumbling, with steam wafting off from it.
"Hahahaha…" Kurenai's laugh echoed as more of the ice melted away, "Did you really think that I hadn't planned for every possibility and annoyance I'd run into trying to fight you, Endeavor's half-baked son?" she inquired of him, "Not only is the Kurenai Dragoon able to withstand your father's flames, but it can also work in conjunction with my Quirk," she explained to Shoto's surprise, "Meaning that your ice and your fire are both useless…" she proclaimed as the ice fully shattered. Both of the mech's fists were brought up and thrown down onto the ground hard, creating a tremor that shook through the immediate area. The Half-Cold, Half-Cold Quirk user found himself blown back along with Endeavor, who took notice of Homura also caught up in the shockwave. He rocketed over to catch her, flying down the street as Punishers went after them. The villainess took notice. "And where do you think you're going with my daughter, Endeavor?!" she shouted in question, having a maniacal look upon her face. All of a sudden though, a stream of flames shot up in front of the mech as it turned, forcing it to stop. Its pilot glanced over with an irritated growl to see Shoto there with his left arm held out.
"Don't you dare call her your daughter…" he snarled, "Not after what you've done!" he roared out, unleashing another ice wave onto the Kurenai Dragoon.
"You stupid boy!" the villainess yelled back, smashing through the ice easily with her mech's fists, "This time, you won't be pushing my limits!" she declared before the Dragoon launched a flurry of bullets down onto the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user, forcing him to bring up an ice wall again to defend himself. However, it left him blind to the approaching mech as its left foot smashed through the ice, kicking him down the streets.
"Shoto!" Izuku cried out upon noticing, seeing the Dragoon head after him.
"We gotta help!" Rebecca insisted before needing to flip over another Punisher and shoot it down.
"We can't let these guys roam free, though!" Burnin pointed out as she stabbed one of the androids with a fiery spear she conjured from her hair, "If Kurenai has them go and attack people, we're gonna be in even more trouble!" she mentioned in panic.
"She's right!" Kido agreed, moving aside and letting a Punisher fly through one of his bandages that was held out. It then suddenly veered down and crashed onto the street.
"Tch!" Katsuki scoffed, "Of course that icy-hot bastard gets to take on the boss!" he grumbled angrily, firing off multiple small explosions onto a platoon of androids.
"Kacchan…" Rebecca sighed out. Meanwhile, Izuku looked back down the street that his friend had been sent tumbling down, with the Kurenai Dragoon marching off after him.
'Todoroki…' the One For All inheritor uttered inwardly, 'Hang in there!' he pleaded before jumping back into the fray against the Punishers. In the meantime, the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user was slow to pick himself up as blood dripped down from his head. He grimaced, trembling from the frost forming along his right arm.
"Hey, isn't that Shoto?" one girl on the sidewalk asked.
"What's he doing here?" another questioned. They and many others then heard the nearby rumblings, enticing them to turn and see the approaching Kurenai Dragoon. Inside, its pilot chuckled.
"Oh, finished already?" she presumed of her foe, who clenched his teeth together, "If you were smart, you'd just let your father face me instead," she pointed out.
"Everyone, run!" Shoto yelled to the bystanders with a wave of his arm. Screaming, the people ran off in fright. Kurenai grinned.
"How noble…" she commented. Her mech's eyes flashed a bright red before firing bright yellow lasers down at the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user. He skated back via a wave of ice to evade them. "Ahahahahaha!" Kurenai cackled, "It looks like all you can do now is run away!" she noted, firing off sprays of bullets in combination with the lasers from the mech's forearms. Grimacing, the student hero whisked around a corner to evade them. He glanced back and gasped to find a missile veering toward him. Quickly, he conjured up another ice wall. Once the projectile struck, a massive explosion erupted.
"Aggghhhh!" he yelled in pain before tumbling back out from the smoke, willing himself back onto his feet. The echoes of the Kurenai Dragoon's footsteps caught his attention as he perked up to see it approaching.
"Why bother continuing to fight me?" Kurenai inquired as her foe glared, "From what I can tell, you fancy my daughter, don't you?" she presumed, "If you let me go and kill your father, I'll let you have her…" she promised to Shoto's shock, "It's the least I can do for such a big favor…" she remarked on. Another wave of ice shot out and collided with her mech's feet. She yelped in surprise as it took a step back.
"Homura…" the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user growled out, getting her attention, "is not your daughter!" he roared, having another wave of ice shoot out and crash against the mech again. However, it barely budged from the impact, with the ice shattering to pieces.
"Tch," Kurenai huffed, "All right, I'll indulge you some more then!" she decided, unleashing another spray of bullets onto her foe from her mech's forearms. Meanwhile, Endeavor overheard the conflict from afar as he had landed down with Homura, setting her onto her feet.
"Shoto…" he uttered worriedly with a grimace, "Valkyrie, let's move!" he instructed, about to run off. However, the Soul Blade Quirk user remained where she stood, staring at the ground. "Valkyrie!" the Flame Hero called out again, only to stop as he noticed her dismayed expression.
"Valkyrie…" she repeated, "She died…" she said, letting her tears drip out from her eyes, "She died because… because…!" she whimpered out, sobbing into her hands. Endeavor stared at her for a moment, unsure of what to do or say. He let the flames around his face dissipate as he approached Homura, slowly and gently wrapping his arms around her.
"It wasn't your fault…" he assured to her, "You have to know that…" he pointed out, "Valkyrie…" he continued, "she would've wanted for you to move forward from all this," he noted confidently, though he knew that his words alone wouldn't be enough to assuage her, "Shoto is fighting Kurenai for your sake," he said, causing her to perk up slightly as she opened her teary eyes, "So for his, we need to support him," he insisted. The Soul Blade Quirk user trembled. She didn't know what to do. So much was going through her head. But she did know that if she didn't do something, someone else close to her would die. And it would be her fault all over again. She sniffled, wiping her eyes.
"Right…" she said, making Endeavor blink, "Let's go," she advised, earning a nod in response from the Flame Hero.
X
"Heaven-Piercing Ice Wall!" Shoto yelled, swinging his right arm up as a ridge of ice shot up and crashed into the Kurenai Dragoon, only for it shatter instantaneously upon contact. Inside the mech, Kurenai smirked.
"You call that an attack?" she questioned, "Let me show you what a real attack is like!" she bellowed, having her Dragoon swing its right fist down at the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user. He tried to bring up a wall of ice to defend himself, but it was too slow come up as the large extremity came down and crashed onto the ground in front of him, sending him tumbling back along the street from the tremor's force. He got back onto his feet, trembling as frost was practically covered the entire right side of his body.
'Not yet…' he told himself, unleashing yet another wave of ice, though much slower than before. The Kurenai Dragoon easily smashed it. From within though, the villainess herself narrowed her eyes in confusion.
'He keeps on blasting ice in spite of its futility…' she noted inwardly, 'He probably just understands that his flames are useless against how resistant the Kurenai Dragoon is…' she presumed, 'So then why…?' she wondered through her thoughts as another wave of ice was sent her way, being easily smashed, 'Why is he so persistent…?!' she questioned inwardly out of annoyance. Shoto roared as he kept releasing waves of ice. No matter how slow or weak they were, he didn't relent for a single moment. He thought back to his battle against Chimera on Nabu Island, remembering how he had decreased his body's temperature to its absolute limit in order to freeze him over and win.
He knew that wouldn't work on the Kurenai Dragoon, especially since the villainess had revealed that her Quirk functioned with her mech. He clenched his freezing right fist, willing himself to fight on for just a little longer. The mech fired off more missiles down at him, which he conjured up ice walls to block off as they exploded against them. He stumbled back, but steeled himself as he released yet another ice wave.
"It's useless!" Kurenai shouted from her mech, having it slam its fists down onto the ground, shattering the incoming ice and blowing Shoto back. He tumbled along the ground as half of his costume was torn to shreds on his upper right side, revealing the spreading frost. He breathed haggardly, slowly getting to his feet. At that moment, both his father and Homura flew onto the scene.
"Shoto!" the Flame Hero exclaimed, widening his eyes upon seeing his son's current condition. The Soul Blade Quirk user's eyes shook, stunned at all of the wounds her classmate had suffered at her mother's hands.
"Ahahahahaha!" she cackled out from her mech, getting their attentions, "Perfect timing, Endeavor!" she remarked, "Get ready to watch as your stupid son dies at my hands!" she proclaimed, thrusting the Kurenai Dragoon's right fist down at the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user.
"SHOTO!" Homura screamed. He stood still for a moment, exhaling a cold breath. And then, he lifted his head up.
"I'm ready," he affirmed, igniting flames around the left side of his body. Instantaneously, he rocketed right past the mech's fist. His father and Homura gasped.
"What?!" Kurenai exclaimed, seeing the fire burn brightly around the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user, melting the frost on his right side as he soared up to the head of the mech, planting himself upon it. Endeavor blinked in shock.
'He was using his right side repeatedly to decrease his body temperature to its absolute limit…' he realized inwardly, seeing his son raise his left arm as flames spewed mightily from it, 'so that he could release an even more intense firepower!' he pointed out through his thoughts, amazed by the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user's resilience. Though beads of sweat trickled down Kurenai's face, she still smirked.
"It's no use, you know!" she shouted out, "The Kurenai Dragoon was designed to withstand the flames of your father!" she noted aloud, "I'm sure your firepower isn't even close to his!" she proclaimed. With an angered growl, Shoto slammed his enflamed left fist onto the mech.
"Shut up already!" he yelled, "Whether or not I'm strong… whether or not I'm like my father…" he listed off, "I don't care about any of that!" he roared, intensifying his flames as the billowed into the night sky for all to see, "You made Homura cry!" he bellowed, "That's something I'll never forgive!" he exclaimed, concentrating his fire into a white-hot point in his fist. Inside the mech, warning signs flashed upon the holographic monitors appearing around the Burn Quirk user.
"Wait… this… can't be right…" she claimed as sweat was trickling down her face, "His flames' temperature… is exceeding Endeavor's?!" she yelled in disbelief.
"FLASHFIRE FIST!" Shoto echoed, causing his father to widen his eyes in surprise, "JETTT… KINDLINNNNGGGGGGGG!" he roared, unleashing a violent explosion of flames. Steam hissed from the mech, which had already endured a multitude of ice attacks. However, electricity started sparking off of it as inside, Kurenai yelped as small explosions were going off.
"No…" she uttered with dismay, "This can't be happening!" she proclaimed, all while the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user continued to have his flames burn through her mech.
"RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he yelled, intensifying his flames even more. From afar, Homura watched on, astonished at not only his efforts, but also his willpower against all odds. Tears formed in her eyes again as waves of heat washed over her.
'Shoto…!' she sobbed inwardly. Inside the mech, Kurenai grimaced.
"Damn it!" she cursed, quickly typing commands on a holographic keyboard before pressing a bright red button. She was instantly ejected from the mech through its belly, landing and tumbling down onto the street. With a final grunt of effort, Shoto made his flames sear through the Kurenai Dragoon.
A multitude of explosions went off simultaneously as the mech collapsed in a heap to the ground, with the Burn Quirk user needing to brace herself from the impact's force. Once the dust settled, she looked out to see her weapon lying motionless on the ground, burned thoroughly and no longer usable. She trembled as embers flickered off from it, floating past her.
"My Dragoon…" she mumbled out, "It was supposed to be invincible…" she proclaimed in frustration, dropping to her hands and knees, clenching her extremities into fists, "And worst of all… it wasn't destroyed by Endeavor…" she mentioned, "but his son!" she exclaimed angrily, slamming her fist against the pavement, "Damn it! DAMN IT!" she cursed. Watching her throw such a tantrum, Homura let out a growl. She drew forth an energy sword in her right hand and charged forward.
"Valkyrie, wait!" Endeavor called out, getting Kurenai's attention as she perked up to see her daughter coming.
"Oh, Homura…" she uttered, sounding relieved, "You're here to help me after all, aren't you?" she presumed, only for her eyes to widen with fright at the look of pure anger in the Soul Blade Quirk user's expression, as she kept charging, "W-Wait!" her mother stammered, "Homura, I gave you everything you could've wanted!" she pointed out, "A powerful Quirk! A great mentor!" she listed off, "You could have a good life with me if you just stay by my side!" she mentioned on with tears in her eyes. However, her daughter wasn't willing to listen. All she could think about was avenging Valkyrie as she closed in, raising her blade.
"Goodbye," she remarked. Kurenai screamed, but the blade never reached her as she flinched. She looked out in surprise to see that Endeavor had caught Homura's sword from behind, with his right hand bleeding.
"That's enough… Homura…" he advised as the Soul Blade Quirk user had tears streaking down her cheeks, "We've won…" he affirmed. Their enemy shook in shock, letting out a few nervous laughs.
"You saved me… Endeavor…" she pointed out. Just then, the figure of Shoto hopped down from the remains of the Kurenai Dragoon. Seeing him approach, the Burn Quirk user shuddered with fright. Flames were still flickering off of the left side of his body, as his jacket was completely gone. The Flame Hero glared down at the villainess.
"Kurenai Kogetsu…" he began, getting her attention as she slowly turned to him, "you're under arrest," he declared. As the smoke from the mech's remains wafted up into the sky, watching from afar atop a building was none other than Dabi.
"Well, what a show…" he remarked, "Little Shoto's got some real firepower after all…" he noted with a grin, "Guess you oughta' be proud, Enji Todoroki…" he added aloud.
ENDING
Insert "Believe" by Soushi Sakiyama
Opens with Homura waking up and preparing for the day, getting dressed in her school uniform before lying on her knees in front of her memorial to Valkyrie, offering a prayer before she heads off. As she gathers in the dorm common room with her classmates, she sees Shoto and smiles, walking off with him. She breathes out a puff of cold air, looking up at the partly cloudy winter sky.
Later, we see her at the Endeavor Agency, practicing with her energy blades against the fiery ones Burnin creates with her Quirk, all while the Flame Hero watches. As Homura's exhaustion catches up with her, Endeavor offers her a cup of tea to ease her. She accepts it, sipping it gratefully. We transition to her as a child, sitting on the porch of her old home with Valkyrie, as they smile at each other.
Being taught for years how to fight with Soul Blade, Homura never knew her teacher was actually an android. But that didn't matter to her either way, as she appreciated what Valkyrie had done for her. We cut to when the police showed up at her home one evening, with Naomasa telling her the unfortunate news of Valkyrie's death. We see the lifeless body of the Shining Star Hero, having many scarlet burns along her body, with a missing right arm and half of her face gone, revealing her robotic appearance underneath.
Back in the present, we see Homura still mourning over her teacher to this day. Things have only been harder after discovering that she was a machine all this time. She starts to tear up a little, but then suddenly has a hand come onto her back. She looks to her right to see a smiling Rebecca there, followed by turning to her left to find Izuku and Katsuki there, with the former flashing a kind grin.
A hand then extends for the Soul Blade Quirk user as she looks to see Shoto standing in front of her. She gratefully accepts it as tears prick her eyes. They walk off together, with Homura starting to lean against Shoto in the process…
END ENDING
Dang, that was quite the chapter to write. I was expecting it to be longer, but I got through all that I needed to with it. The aftermath is something I'm really looking forward to getting to, too.
That's all for now, everyone! Thanks for reading! Until next time!